The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-05
A YOUNG HEROINE.
A Thrilling Incident Of tho Franco.
German War.

The French Army has lost the day.
For the last three hours the soldiers
crossed tile village Of Chaille. The re-
treat had commenced. CannOns, bag
gage, infantry, cavalry, all were mixed
together The officers tried no more
10 bring order and regularity among
their men, or to stop the disaster.
Towards the evening the retreat had
become a hclter-skeltcr, the yanquished
decreased in number, II few cavalry
men and then-nOthing
But in the last rays Of the sun the
people Of the village saw n dozen Of
soldiers coming on the road. From
time TO time they turned around and
fired shots at the enemy.
Far of. black spot, then two, then
twenty, then hundred, detached
themselves on the line of the majestic
trees!
Those black spots were the Germans!
Arriving in the village. that dozen Of
soldiers forming the rear guard was
what was left OF the rear guard Of the
Army Of La Loire; they stopped.
The Captain who commanded them
had chosen good position between
two big houses.
"lIurry up, boys" said he TO his
men; eve will erect n barricadc here.
II shall not be said that those saucr-
kraut eaters have entered this village
as in a church. Burst open the doors.
if il is necessary, and once more hurry
up"
That Captains voice was firm, and
his face expressed anger and determi-
nation; his mon, old African Iouavcs
and Turcos, cnraged fighters, were not
apprentices in the art of building bar
ricadcs; in less than n quarter of an
hour the street was made impossible
by cars of manure. mattresses, doors,
shutters. in fact. every thing bulky was
employed for that purpose.
The Captain. who had picked up n
gun on the battlefield. was rclOading il
when II tall man with IA pale face APP
preached him.
Excuse mo, Captain; are you the
officer in commando"
Yes"
"Belicvc me, sir. renounce the idea
of defending this village against an en-
emy twenty times. one hundred times,
more numerous than you are; you can
not be successful. of course. and you
will cause our village to be set on fire
10y the Germans.
The Captain looked at his interloc-
disgust.
What do you sayp You will go
away mighty quick. or else shall send
you to"
And the Captain took the man by
the neck and was in IA way TO stranglc
him. when tall old man with white
hair emerged from house near by.
"Lct him go, Captain, he is not
worth the strangulation; my name is
Pierre. and am vine dresser" said
the old man addressing the officer.
Then, turning To the coward. he added:
"Go to your home. Monsieur the
Mayor; il you.nre unwilling to do your
duty. at least do not prevent others to
accomplish it. You see, Captain, that
Mayor j. Monsieur from the city,
sent TO us by the Imperial Government;
all his fortune is in this village. in
which he owns several buildings. and
il the Germans set them on fire he will
be ruined. | am myself in the same
case; il my cabin is destroyed do not
know what will remain for my grand
daughter Jacqucline. Butwhat do you
want sin? France, our country. before
any thing"
The Captain was touched, and re-
moving his cap, he said To the patriot:
you are brave man, and may God
bless YOU
And an old soldier" replied th.
vine dresser. Strengthening himself;
"thcrc is my Gross of the Legion Of
Honor given To me by the Emperor
himself. the great Napoleon! Now.
Captain. il YOU have gun to lend me
| will show you that | know how to
handle IT,"
At this moment lively muskctry was
heard from the other side of the barri-
cadc. The Germans were coming.
The village was deserted by its in-
habitauts. women, children. cripplcs
and old people had departed, taking
with them every thing they could carry.
The ablc-bodicd men were in the
army.
The battle began; the bullets whis-
tied in the air and ilnttencd themselves
against the walls. The French held
the place well and Papa Pierre. the
vine dresser, barchcaded. his hair TO
tho wind. fired his gun bravcly. while
his granddaughter loaded the hrcpiccc
after each discharge.
Suddenly bombshcll burst at ten
yards from the barricadc.
This IL hot" exclaimed the Cap
tain. "thoy lombard us now; in ten
minutes we will have to 60 If"
He had not time to end his phrase
when second projectile passing
through the roof Of the shelter covered
him and his soldiers with dust; happily
no one was wounded, alone Jacqueline
had uttered n cry. The emotion was
too much for the poor girl-she tainted.
"You must retire. Captain" said